A Few Steps to Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present extra information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure the end user gets the best information available. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, WalshStreet Appraisals is constantly researching new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At WalshStreet Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a handful of things you can do to trim turn times every time you order an appraisal from WalshStreet Appraisals.

Order your appraisals electronically.

By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the request.

Complete and accurate subject property information is essential.

Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, don't hesitate to contact us

Are you telling us up front any features of the property that might make it unique?

Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how details unique to a property contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive quicker.

Be sure the occupants know the the plan.

Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming tasks in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the idea an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take copious notes. With the notion that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners think they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they put off the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- the person they've been working with on their loan -- some information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can shorten the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point them to our website, where we have many pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment as quickly as possible!

Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.

Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7? As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.